Arsenal – P6 W3 L2 D1
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, the defending Premier League champions, saved their best preseason performance for last, with a statement victory over Enzo Maresca’s new-look Manchester City. Goals from Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz and Martin Ødegaard sent a warning to the rest of the division that they’re in the hunt to go back-to-back.
The Gunners began preseason with a comfortable 3-0 win over MK Dons before thrashing Girona 4-1. Losses to Real Betis and Borussia Dortmund followed, before a 1-1 draw with Cesc Fàbregas’ Como. The 3-0 Community Shield win swept away any doubts about their chances this season. Arsenal scored 13 goals and conceded eight across their six fixtures.
ARSENAL LIFT THE COMMUNITY SHIELD 🏆 👏 pic.twitter.com/W9tZskAJ8S
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 16, 2026
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Chelsea – P6 W3 L2 D1
The Blues had a mixed bag of results in their preparation for the season. A tour to Australia brought a 6-4 win against Western Sydney Wanderers, a 2-1 defeat to 10-man Spurs and a 1-0 loss to Italian giants Juventus.
Xabi Alonso’s side settled after that, closing out with a 3-0 win over AC Milan, a 3-3 draw against Johor Darul Ta’zim and a 3-1 win over Real Sociedad. Chelsea were the top-scoring side of the top six in preseason with 16 goals, but also conceded the most, with 11.
The moment Morgan Rogers scores for Chelsea vs Real Sociedad! pic.twitter.com/ny67VV24fW
— The Moment Football (@themomentfooty) August 15, 2026
Liverpool – P6 W3 L2 D1
With an identical record to Arsenal and Chelsea, Andoni Iraola has had a mixed start to his Liverpool career. Taking over after a poor season under Arne Slot, Liverpool are looking to rediscover their intensity under the Spaniard.
The Reds began preseason in the United States with a 4-2 win over Sunderland and a 1-0 win over Wrexham. Their US tour ended with a 4-2 defeat to Leeds, conceding four second-half goals in what threatened to become a trend after a 3-2 defeat to Monaco at Anfield.
Two matches against Como, a behind-closed-doors 0-0 and a solid 2-0 win, rounded off their preparations, with 11 goals scored and nine conceded.
Jeremy Jacquet vs Como🔥 pic.twitter.com/jk5gwXJxuQ
— Tribun Liverpool Indonesia (@TribunLFC_Indo) August 17, 2026
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Manchester City – P4 W2 L1 D1
Enzo Maresca’s preseason looked to be ticking every box until last Sunday’s Community Shield humbling at the hands of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal. A draw with Inter Milan was followed by 3-1 wins over Atlético Madrid and the K-League All Stars, but the 3-0 defeat to the Gunners has left the former Chelsea boss with plenty of questions ahead of the new campaign.
Following one of football’s greatest in Pep Guardiola is no easy task, and with the pressure of the success his decade of dominance built into the club, it remains to be seen how much time Maresca will be given at the helm. Rodri’s exit has hardly made it easier. City scored seven and conceded six across their four warm-up games.
HIGHLIGHTS ARSENAL 3-0 MANCHESTER CITY 🔥😈 pic.twitter.com/afd5b5quw2
— Extra Time Indonesia (@idextratime) August 17, 2026
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Manchester United – P6 W2 L2 D2
The Red Devils are starting again under Michael Carrick, who inspired United’s return to the Champions League after a disastrous Rúben Amorim reign. This season will be a huge test.
They played just 40 matches last season, the lowest possible total (38 in the Premier League, with first-round exits in the FA Cup and League Cup and no European football), and their squad depth needs to improve if they’re to cope with the added demands.
An up-and-down preseason saw a 1-0 defeat to Wrexham in game one, before a 5-0 win over Rosenborg and a 2-1 win over Atlético Madrid. 1-1 draws against European champions PSG and Leeds United were then followed by an awkward 4-2 defeat to Amorim’s AC Milan. United scored 11 and conceded nine across their six matches.
🚨 FRIENDLIES! 🤝
HARRY MAGUIRE OPENS THE SCORE! 🏴
Manchester United 1-0 AC Milan pic.twitter.com/16QCEVx1Kn
— Polymarket FC (@PolymarketFC) August 15, 2026
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Spurs – P7 W4 D3
The only unbeaten side on this list, Roberto De Zerbi will be thrilled with his side’s preparation as they target a return to European football after two poor seasons in the Premier League.
Across seven games they conceded just five, the best of the top six, and scored 12, the second-highest total. Before their tour to Australia, they warmed up with a 1-0 win over MK Dons, then defeated Auckland FC 2-0 and drew 1-1 with Sydney FC, before a standout 2-1 win over Chelsea despite playing much of the game with 10 men.
Two matches against Hoffenheim closed out their preseason, with a 2-2 draw behind closed doors and a comfortable 3-0 win.
⚽️🔥 GOOOOAL! TOTTENHAM 1-0 HOFFENHEIM
RICHARLISON PUTS SPURS AHEAD! 🇧🇷🐦
Brilliant build-up play from Tottenham. 👏
🎯 Sandro Tonali starts it with a superb line-breaking pass to find Andy Robertson down the left.
➡️ Robertson gets forward and picks out Richarlison just… pic.twitter.com/L8KCp00X7M
— Anthony Rosenberg-Murray (@TottenhamLens) August 15, 2026
Photo: Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs
